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This Greece tour explores Athens and Istanbul, and cruises through the Greek islands and along Turkey's Aegean coast aboard Wind Star / Wind Spirit, a motor-sailing yacht that hosts just 148 Tauck guests. See the best of the ancient world, from the Parthenon to the Blue Mosque, plus museums stuffed with art and other treasures. Explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Acropolis, Mycenae, Delos, the medieval city of Rhodes, and historic district in Istanbul. Examine ancient ruins in Epidaurus and legendary Ephesus, and stroll the atmospheric towns of Mykonos, Fira, and Nauplia. In Istanbul, enjoy the Bazaar as well as ornate palaces and mosques.
2008 Itinerary
Southbound
Click here for northbound
• Indicates day of cruising
Day 1: Arrive in Istanbul
Tour begins: 6:00 PM. Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul, Turkey. Your Turkey and Greece tour includes an included transfer from Istanbul’s Ataturk International Airport to the Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul. Your hotel boasts beautiful views of the Bosphorus. Meet fellow travelers at the welcome reception and dinner.
Meals: Dinner
Lodging: Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul, Turkey
Day 2: The imperial Ottomans
Istanbul is truly the crossroads of Europe and Asia; visit the imperial seat of the Ottoman Empire, Topkapi Palace, including the living quarters for the Sultan’s harem. Drive to Süleymaniye Mosque and mausoleums, a glorious tribute to Ottoman artistry.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul, Turkey
Day 3: Exotic Istanbul
Explore beautiful Hagia Sophia, a 1,400-year-old Byzantine church with lovely figurative mosaics. View the Basilica Cistern, an underground Byzantine structure. Then see Turkish carpets and colorful kilims in the Covered Bazaar.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul, Turkey
• Day 4: Blue Mosque
Tour the Blue Mosque, one of Istanbul’s landmark sites featuring six minarets, a host of domes, and intricate blue tilework. Lunch includes Turkish favorites and is followed by a boat ride on the historic Bosphorus. Board your luxury motor-sailing ship, Wind Star / Wind Spirit for your Greek Island cruise exploring the treasures of the Aegean with Tauck.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Wind Star / Wind Spirit
• Day 5: Cruising the Aegean Sea
Enjoy the views on this Greek Island cruise in the Aegean Sea. Take advantage of the ship’s swimming pool, hot tub, fitness center, and sauna. In the evening, try your luck in the casino, or check out a movie or novel from the library.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Wind Star / Wind Spirit
• Day 6: Antiquities of Ephesus
Dock in Kusadasi, Turkey today. Drive to Ephesus, once the chief port on the Aegean, now known for its spectacular antiquities and ruins. See the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian, Gate of Hercules, Greek Theater, and other temples, baths, and colonnaded streets. See artifacts in the Selçuk Museum in one of Turkey’s best museums.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Wind Star / Wind Spirit
• Day 7: Discover Rhodes
Arrive at the island of Rhodes, Greece, with a wealth of monuments. Take a guided tour of the walled medieval city of Rhodes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and visit the Gothic Palace of the Grand Masters.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Wind Star / Wind Spirit
• Day 8: Turkish coast wonders
Your Greek Island cruise charts a course to Bodrum today to see the remains of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: Halicarnassus Mausoleum, built in the 4th century BC and originally topped with an enormous horse-drawn chariot statue. Visit the Castle of St. Peter, built during the Crusades by the Knights of St. John, and the Museum of Underwater Archaeology, with artifacts from ancient shipwrecks.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Wind Star / Wind Spirit
• Day 9: Spectacular Santorini
Rise early to catch spectacular water views of Santorini as the ship pulls into port. Tour the town of Fira with its white washed, blue-domed buildings set on high, steep slopes above the sea. Meander around Fira on your own in the afternoon, and return to the ship by traditional means, the donkey.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Wind Star / Wind Spirit
• Day 10: Mykonos & Delos Islands
Call on glamorous Mykonos, weather permitting. Take a boat to the tiny island of Delos, the mythological birthplace of Apollo and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This religious pilgrimage destination features sacred temples, sanctuaries, theaters, and shrines to the Gods, and is one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece. Spend the afternoon in Mykonos, known for leather goods and jewelry.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Wind Star / Wind Spirit
Day 11: Epidaurus and Charming Nafplion
Your Greek Island cruise ends today when you disembark from the ship in Piraeus. Travel to Epidaurus and check out the well-preserved theatre built in the 4th century BC to seat 15,000 people. Enjoy a guided walk in Nafplion with fine neoclassical architecture crowned by hilltop fortresses, then poke around on your own and find a seaside taverna for dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Lodging: Nafplia Palace / Amphitryon Hotel, Nafplion, Greece
Day 12: Mycenae to Athens
Continue to Mycenae where you’ll see the imposing Lion Gate and interesting tombs at this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Arrive in Athens, the birthplace of Western Culture, where your Greece tour continues at one of the world’s favorite hotels.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Lodging: Hotel Grande Bretagne, Athens, Greece
Day 13: The Acropolis
In the quiet early morning, visit the Acropolis; this is the site of four of the greatest masterpieces of classical Greek art – the Parthenon, the Propylaea, the Erechtheum, and the Temple of Athena Nike – a highlight of any Greece tour. See one of the world’s best collections of ancient Greek art and artifacts at the National Archaeological Museum of Athens. In the afternoon, pursue your own interests in Athens. Share favorite highlights of your Greek Island cruise during our farewell dinner this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Hotel Grande Bretagne, Athens, Greece
Day 14: Journey home
Tour ends in Athens. A transfer is included from the Hotel Grande Bretagne to the Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos). Allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours before the departure of your flight.
Meals: Breakfast
Dates & Prices
May 21, 28
Jun 4, 11, 18, 25
Jul 9, 16
Aug 13
Sep 3, 10, 17, 24
Oct 15
14 Days from $6,990
| July – August 20 Departures | Double | Single | Triple |
| Category B – Deck One | $6990 | $9876 | $6561 |
| Category A – Deck Two | $7190 | $9976 | $6628 |
| May – June; August 27 – October Departures | Double | Single | Triple |
| Category B – Deck One | $7290 | $10,176 | $6861 |
| Category A – Deck Two | $7490 | $10,276 | $6928 |
33 meals included.
International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in the U.S. (subject to availability).
Travel North or South: Cruise operates North from Athens and South from Istanbul. Sightseeing is identical.
Please ask at time of booking about additional hotel nights before your tour begins and about our comprehensive Cruise Protection Plan.
Note: Land portion of this cruise involves significant walking, as vehicle access to antiquities and ruins is often limited. Sightseeing in Athens, Istanbul, and the Greek Islands features ancient sites with steps and uneven terrain, where walking is more difficult.
- 11424
- Ocean
- 01 Jan 00
- Europe
- 07 Jun 16
- Tauck Cruising
- Cruise Only
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Important Terms
- * This product is priced in USD (USD), AUD rates can fluctuate depending on exchange rates, final rates in AUD will be confirmed by your consultant at time of booking.
- Prices shown are fully inclusive of taxes unless otherwise stated.
- Advertised price includes any bonus nights, special offers or discounts listed in the inclusions.
- Surcharges may apply due to demand, Christmas & New Year's Eve, school or public holidays, trade shows, special events & other unforeseen circumstances.
- Prices may be based on Dynamic Rates and as such, may fluctuate at anytime without notice, due to matters outside our control, such as adverse currency fluctuations, fuel surcharges, taxes and airfare increases, or at the property's discretion.
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Tauck Cruising
Go beyond the ordinary and experience cruise travel at its best with Tauck. What makes Tauck’s Small Ship Cruising and River Cruising unique is the focus on the destination. Each scenic ports of call connect you with people and places, which will give you a moving, compelling and heart-warming experience both onboard and ashore.
Time ashore is enriched by in-depth cultural exploration and insider access that ensures up-close-and-personal connections with the locals and daily life. Tauck’s cruise travel adventures include guided sightseeing with local experts such as naturalists, historians, and accomplished lecturers. You’ll dine on regional cuisine on land at aboard ship that showcases specialties of the destination. After a day of extraordinary sightseeing, Tauck welcome you back onboard the hand-picked vessels for warm camaraderie and lively conversation that’s inherent on every Tauck cruise travel experience. The stories are endless, the memories are timeless and the connections priceless.
You can expect to see the sights a bit differently than you would with anyone else. Tauck explores Europe’s great waterways from the Rhine and the Danube to the Rhône and the Seine in France. Their luxurious riverboats are spacious and comfortable, welcoming you to an onboard experience characterized by the Tauck. Discover river cruises that go beyond the ordinary!
Tauck Voted World’s Best River Cruise Line
For the second time in three years, Tauck has been named the “World’s Best River Cruise Line" by the readers of Travel + Leisure, one of the world’s most authoritative and respected publications for travellers. The World’s Best Awards from Travel + Leisure are selected by the magazine’s readers. Every year, T+L holds a survey for readers to fill out on their main website. The survey remains open until April.
Winners are announced in the August/September issues of Travel + Leisure. These awards are given in categories such as hotels, resorts, spas, cruises, airlines, travel companies, tour operators, cities, islands, family travel, and more.
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The heart of history meets the art of sophisticated river cruise travel aboard Tauck’s river cruises. Experience the Tauck difference on cruise travel days along great European waterways from the Rhine to the Danube, from the canals of the Netherlands to the Rhône, from the Main to the Danube and the Moselle…
You’ll cruise aboard spacious riverboats that have been custom designed to meet American standards with well appointed outside facing cabins and suites, a choice of on-board dining venues, complimentary wine with dinner, fitness centers and attentive personal service from Tauck’s staff and the ship’s crew.
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Small Ship Cruising
The difference in Tauck’s small ship cruise travel lies in the choreography of the total cruise travel experience – the combination of personalized cruising with cultural land exploration. How you spend your days ashore – where you go, what you do, who you meet – that’s the Tauck difference. From the moment you step ashore, with 85 years of expertise on land ensures that on every cruise travel day, every moment of your shore excursions (all included in the price) count! Smaller ships hold fewer passengers, which means more personal attention from the captain and the crew – you’ll find the on-board atmosphere to be both club-like and comfortable. The pace is more relaxed, the conversations are richer, and the day-to-day experiences are shared with like-minded travelers.
